The purpose of the Strongest Families (formerly Family Help Program)is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Strongest Families distance intervention compared to usual or standard care that is typically provided to children with mild to moderate Disruptive Behaviour symptomology. This is a single-centre trial based at the IWK Health Centre. The primary outcome is change in diagnosis.

Behavioral: Strongest Families (formerly Family Help Program): Behaviour Disorder Program

Evidence-based psychological and behavioural Distance Intervention

Other Name: Strongest Families (formerly Family Help Program):

Active Comparator: Control

50% randomized to control group: standard/usual care for behaviour disorder

Behavioral: Strongest Families (formerly Family Help Program): Behaviour Disorder Program

Evidence-based psychological and behavioural Distance Intervention

Other Name: Strongest Families (formerly Family Help Program):

Detailed Description:

The purpose of the Strongest Families (formerly Family Help Program): is to deliver, primary care mental health services to children and their families in the comfort and privacy of their own home. Approximately 60 children (3-7 years of age)suffering from mild to moderate (but clinically significant) symptoms of pediatric behavior disorder will be randomized.

The intervention is delivered from a distance, using educational materials (manuals, video-tapes, audio-tapes) and telephone consultation with a trained paraprofessional "coach" who is supervised by a licensed health care professional. The telephone coach delivers consistent care based on written protocols, with on-going evaluation by a professional team.

Fifty percent of the eligible participants will receive Family Help Program telephone-based treatment and 50% will be referred back to their family physician to receive standard care as determined by that physician. Those receiving standard care will be evaluated for outcome results and then compared to the Strongest Families treated participants. It is anticipated that Strongest Families treatment will be proven to be as or more effective than standard care.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

3 Years to 7 Years (Child)

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

child 3 to 7 years of age

child had behavioural problems for 6 months or longer

access to a telephone in the home

speak and write english

mild to moderate disruptive behaviour symptomology

Exclusion Criteria:

severe disruptive behaviour symptomology

received similar intervention within past 6 months

Autism or Schizophrenia

child has intellectual impairment

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00267579